GSMArena.com GSMArena.com

Tip us

888k

156k
74k
1.1m

RSS

Log in

Login

I forgot my password
Sign up
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Videos
  • Featured
  • Phone Finder
  • DealsNew
  • Tools
  • Coverage
  • Contact
ADVERTISEMENTS
GSMArena team, 30 October 2012

A fresh start


Samsung Ativ S review: A fresh start

  • Comments (109)
  • User reviews
  • Ativ S I8750

1. Introduction
  1. 1. Introduction
  2. 2. 360-degree spin, design and build quality
  3. 3. Display and handling
  4. 4. User interface
  5. 5. Phonebook, telephony, messaging
  6. 6. Gallery, music and video players, audio quality
  7. 7. Camera, image quality, video recording and quality
  8. 8. Connectivity, Internet Explorer, Bing Search
  9. 9. Windows Store, Xbox Live, Maps
  10. 10. MS Office 15, organizer and apps
  11. 11. Final words
  12.  
  13. Samsung Ativ S I8750 specification
  14. User opinions and reviews
  15. Review comments (109)

Samsung Windows Touch UI

Introduction

Microsoft's campaign is underway across the board with Windows 8, RT and WP 8 and all eyes are now set on Redmond's allies for a demonstration of fire power. Following some early warning shots from Nokia and HTC, Samsung are now free to fire at will.

Samsung Ativ S Samsung Ativ S Samsung Ativ S Samsung Ativ S
Samsung Ativ S official pictures

Their Ativ S was the first Windows Phone 8 flagship announced and, respectful of chronology, the first we're about to properly review. The Nokia Lumia 920, the HTC Windows Phone 8X and the Ativ S are often painted as allies - but that's mostly rhetoric. To a certain point, they have little choice but to unite against the Android and iPhone hordes. On the other hand, these fine smartphones will be sworn enemies fighting over every user drawn close enough by Microsoft's upgraded platform.

And by the way, Windows Phone 8's appeal is easy enough to understand. It is now a consistent cross-device platform that will get app developers interested. Multiple-core-chipset and screen resolution support will help Microsoft-powered devices stand next to their Android and iOS counterparts as equals.

OEMs on the other hand are also giving potential users a good enough reason to be excited. Just look at what the Ativ S is offering to those who are willing to go with Samsung.

Key features

  • Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
  • Quad-band 3G with 42 Mbps HSDPA and 5.7 Mbps HSUPA support
  • 4.8" 16M-color Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen of 720 x 1280 pixel resolution
  • Scratch resistant Gorilla Glass 2 display
  • 8 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash, 1080p@30fps video recording
  • 1.9MP front camera
  • Windows Phone 8 OS
  • 1.5GHz dual-core Krait CPU, Adreno 225 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8960 chipset, 1GB of RAM
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band
  • GPS receiver with A-GPS and GLONASS support
  • Digital compass
  • 16/32GB of on-board storage
  • microSD slot
  • Active noise cancellation with a dedicated mic
  • Built-in accelerometer and proximity sensor
  • Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
  • microUSB port
  • Bluetooth v3.0 with A2DP and EDR, file transfers
  • Impressively deep and coherent SNS integration throughout the interface
  • Xbox Live integration and Xbox management
  • Data Sense
  • Class-leading JavaScript performance
  • NFC support
  • Samsung exclusive apps: Music hub, Chat on, Photo editor
  • FM Radio

Main disadvantages

  • App catalog falls short of Android and iOS
  • Competition has quad-core Krait CPUs already
  • Costs more than the Galaxy S III SIM-free
  • No system-wide file manager
  • No voice-guided navigation
  • No music player equalizers
  • No lockscreen shortcuts

So, there we are. The Ativ S is running an OS that has just had its potential unlocked by a major update. The hardware powering has been inspired by no other but Samsung's droid flagship, the Galaxy S III. OK, it's a different chipset, and a couple of CPU cores short, but most of the rest is there - from the HD Super AMOLED screen to the 8MP camera.

Windows Phone 8 has finally caught up with the industry leaders. There's a massive gap between Samsung's last generation of Windows Phone and the Ativ S. Goodbye, Omnia and, sorry to say, you won't be badly missed. They could've done better when naming the new lineup, that's for sure. But the fresh start most certainly called for a brand new name.

Samsung Ativ S Samsung Ativ S Samsung Ativ S Samsung Ativ S
Samsung Ativ S live pictures

That's a minor point though - we can live with a name without a ring as long as the engine's got a hearty rumble. So, we're taking the Samsung Ativ S out for a spin and you're most welcome to join. Hit the jump to the design and build.

Next Page » 2. 360-degree spin, design and build quality
1. Introduction
  1. 1. Introduction
  2. 2. 360-degree spin, design and build quality
  3. 3. Display and handling
  4. 4. User interface
  5. 5. Phonebook, telephony, messaging
  6. 6. Gallery, music and video players, audio quality
  7. 7. Camera, image quality, video recording and quality
  8. 8. Connectivity, Internet Explorer, Bing Search
  9. 9. Windows Store, Xbox Live, Maps
  10. 10. MS Office 15, organizer and apps
  11. 11. Final words
  12.  
  13. Samsung Ativ S I8750 specification
  14. User opinions and reviews
  15. Review comments (109)

Reviews Samsung Ativ S review
  • Comments (109)
  • User reviews
  • Ativ S I8750

Samsung Ativ S review: A fresh start - Reader comments

F
  • Frankie
  • N7$
  • 22 Mar 2015

I recently bored thi samsung window phone every time I want to add an application it keeps on asking for location then I must create the Microsoft account then my email address then for some reason it is unable to do what Ian looking for pls help bec...

  • Reply
A
  • Anja
  • SX@
  • 26 Jul 2014

Please can you tell me, I have samsung Ativ S, how to set up a camera for panorama shoot or shooting with postponement? Seems that there is no that option, or... thank you

  • Reply
?
  • Anonymous
  • xii
  • 11 Feb 2014

try setting date and time correctly

  • Reply
  • Read all comments
  • Post your comment
Total reader comments: 109

Phone finder

  • Samsung
  • Apple
  • Huawei
  • Nokia
  • Sony
  • LG
  • HTC
  • Motorola
  • Lenovo
  • Xiaomi
  • Google
  • Honor
  • Oppo
  • Realme
  • OnePlus
  • vivo
  • Meizu
  • BlackBerry
  • Asus
  • Alcatel
  • ZTE
  • Microsoft
  • Vodafone
  • Energizer
  • Cat
  • Sharp
  • Micromax
  • Infinix
  • Ulefone
  • Tecno
  • BLU
  • Acer
  • Wiko
  • Panasonic
  • verykool
  • Plum

All brands Rumor mill

ADVERTISEMENTS

Related articles

  • Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 (2021) surfaces in rough CAD-based renders
  • Samsung allegedly wants to invest $10 billion in a 3nm chip manufacturing plant in Texas
  • Samsung working on a Galaxy Tab S7 Lite, coming in three variants
  • Samsung Galaxy A52 5G receives Bluetooth and Wi-Fi certification
ADVERTISEMENTS

Popular reviews

Apple iOS 14 review

Apple iOS 14 review
Android 11 review

Android 11 review
Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra review

Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra review
ADVERTISEMENTS

Home News Reviews Compare Coverage Glossary FAQ RSS feed Youtube Facebook Twitter Instagram

© 2000-2021 GSMArena.com Mobile version Android app Contact us Privacy Terms of use Change Ad Consent Do not sell my data